Blueberry Recall Escalated Amidst Rising Listeria Concerns

A blueberry recall has been escalated to the most serious level due to contamination concerns. Alma Pak International LLC initiated a voluntary recall on June 9th, involving 400 boxes, each weighing 30 pounds, of its organic blueberries. Routine testing revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacteria.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the blueberry recall as Class I, the highest risk level. This designation signifies a situation where using or being exposed to the contaminated product could lead to severe health problems or even death. The recalled blueberries were distributed to a single customer located in North Carolina. The affected products can be identified by specific lot numbers.

Listeria, as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a bacteria that can contaminate various foods. Infections occur after consuming food containing Listeria monocytogenes. Symptoms can vary, but the infection can cause invasive and intestinal illnesses.

Listeria infections are a significant public health concern, ranking as the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the United States, resulting in approximately 260 fatalities annually.

Recent months have seen multiple food recalls in the U.S. due to the risk of Listeria contamination. FreshRealm's chicken fettuccine alfredo products were recalled last month after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service identified potential contamination with a specific strain of Listeria monocytogenes. This outbreak led to multiple deaths, fetal loss, and numerous illnesses across several states. The ready-made meals were distributed to Walmart and Kroger stores nationwide.

Also in June, Bornstein Seafoods Inc. recalled a large quantity of its Cooked & Peeled Ready-To-Eat Coldwater Shrimp Meat after Listeria monocytogenes was detected during routine sampling.

The past two years have shown an increase in food recalls. In 2024, around 300 food recalls were issued, linked to nearly 1,400 illnesses. A significant number of those affected required hospitalization, and a number of deaths were reported. While these numbers are relatively small compared to the total U.S. population, they represent a doubling of hospitalizations and deaths from foodborne illnesses compared to the previous year.